It was Tuesday, June 12 and I was assisting Pastor Gil Walkoenig of Gettysburg Seminary in teaching a course on Ecotheology in Northern Appalachia. This was a week long course hosted by Lutherlyn that looked at the region, our history of extractive industries, the resulting human and environmental impacts, and opportunities for ministry. On Tuesday we were headed for Allegheny National Forest to learn about forest preservation and forest fragmentation.
We were just a few miles from our initial destination, Hearts Content Scenic Area (a stand of old growth forest within the Allegheny National Forest), when Gil noticed a bear on the left side of the road. I stopped the van and then reversed as the bear walked in the direction from which we were coming. He seemed to be walking toward a utility pole. I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be great if he stood up and scratched his back on that pole." And he did! The bear stood up on his hind legs and rubbed his back on the pole. He then dropped back to all fours and began walking away. . .until he changed his mind and returned to the pole. As he reached the pole, he stood up again and began scratching his back. This time while he was scratching his back he also decided to take a bite out of the pole. He made it look easier than taking a bite out of an apple. Taking a bite out of a utility pole was easy for this bear. He even left the pole, only to return moments later and do it again.
photo by Betty Deuchler
The bear may have considered this pole a "prominent tree," as bears will sometimes bite trees to mark their territory or signal their interest in mating. Mating season runs from June to mid-July, so we happened upon this bear at the correct time of year to see this behavior. Still the strength of the bear's jaws really surprised me. The amount of strength that it must take to bite through something as strong and fibrous as a tree, is amazing.
